The SMS Coach, Justin H. Mueller

Rhode Island SMS Marketing and A2P Messaging Rules

A plain-language, source-linked guide to Rhode Island authorities relevant to SMS, MMS, telemarketing, privacy, consent, and do-not-call issues.

2reviewed source records
1express text-message source
0fact-dependent sources
1related or unresolved source

What the sources say

The Rhode Island sources reviewed for this page include 1 source that expressly cover text messaging. Other sources may apply only to particular activities or provide related context. Federal law, carrier policy, and sender-registration requirements may still apply alongside state law.

Authorities and official sources

Each entry explains what the source says, where its limits are, and what it does not establish.

State law · Current

R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-61-3.5, plus related Telephone Sales Solicitation Act sections

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How this authority relates to messaging

The reviewed source expressly applies to a particular type of text message or a specific messaging issue.

What the source establishes

  • § 5-61-3.5 expressly bans transmission of a “text message advertisement” to a cellular phone or pager with narrow listed exceptions.

Limits and important context

  • Narrow direct text-advertising rule, plus broader telephonic-seller registration / hours / prerecorded voice rules that remain mostly call-focused.
  • No text-message advertisements absent the statute’s specific exceptions; related telephonic-seller regime includes registration and 500-dollar-per-violation misdemeanor exposure.
  • Existing-relationship and subscriber-choice exceptions for certain texts; carrier-directed texts exempted.
  • State enforcement and possible private-action exposure.
  • Misdemeanor and fine up to $500 per violation; purchaser remedies exist for material chapter violations.

Exceptions or special treatment

  • Specific statutory exception: No text-message advertisements absent the statute’s specific exceptions; related telephonic-seller regime includes registration and 500-dollar-per-violation misdemeanor exposure.
  • Existing relationship: Existing-relationship and subscriber-choice exceptions for certain texts; carrier-directed texts exempted.
  • Subscriber choice: Existing-relationship and subscriber-choice exceptions for certain texts; carrier-directed texts exempted.
  • Carrier-directed text: Existing-relationship and subscriber-choice exceptions for certain texts; carrier-directed texts exempted.

Official and supporting sources

  1. R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-61-3.5(a)-(b)
Source and review details
Jurisdiction
Rhode Island
Source type
State law
Current status
Current

State law · Current

Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act

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How this authority relates to messaging

This source is relevant to the broader program, but the reviewed text does not expressly establish general SMS or MMS coverage.

What the source establishes

  • Requires security, customer rights, and processor support duties. Violations are tied to deceptive-trade-practice enforcement.

Limits and important context

  • Applies to for-profit entities targeting Rhode Island residents and meeting 35,000-consumer or 10,000-plus-sale-revenue thresholds. Extends rights and controller/processor duties to Rhode Island-resident messaging datasets, including phones, preferences, and targeted-ad data. The statute says the attorney general has sole enforcement authority and there is no private right of action. Effective January 1, 2026. Strongest surfaced official source is the Rhode Island statutory text. Effective January 1, 2026; second threshold requires more than 20% gross revenue from sale; Attorney General-only enforcement, no private action, and no cure period.

Facts that may change the result

  • Does the organization meet Rhode Island’s privacy-law applicability thresholds?

Official and supporting sources

  1. R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 6-48.1
Source and review details
Jurisdiction
Rhode Island
Source type
State law
Current status
Current

Continue with the most useful next step

Move from a jurisdiction or authority layer to the sources and tools most likely to answer the next question.

Check this state in the SMS Compliance Preflight Use program details to identify the authority layers that may apply. Federal law The federal statutes and regulations that form the national legal baseline for U.S. A2P text messaging. FCC rules and orders FCC actions addressing consent revocation, opt-out handling, robotext blocking, and related operational controls. Carrier policy Carrier policies and public guidance concerning approved messaging paths, consent evidence, opt-out handling, filtering, and sender behavior. Sender registration 10DLC, short-code, toll-free, vetting, and monitoring requirements used to register or verify U.S. A2P senders. Browse SMS marketing laws by state Return to the complete state and national authority index.

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